Newton mayor, residents want to move forward after social media tiffs

NEWTON -- Dozens of residents, local business owners and even a handful of out-of-towners showed up to Monday night's Town Council meeting to voice their thoughts on a number of subjects, including the mayor's job performance, a proposed food truck ordinance and parking on Spring Street.

Prior to the start of the meeting's public session, the council convened in executive session to discuss personnel matters related to Mayor Wayne Levante. The mayor was the subject of a formal complaint filed by Newton Board of Education member Anthony Neggers who alleged Levante had violated the town's policy on political activity, and possibly the state code of ethics, by publicly endorsing three write-in candidates for the school board on social media.

The results of the closed door discussion were not publicly disclosed on Monday evening, but several residents took to the microphone to put their opinions of Levante on the record.

Most of the residents and business owners who spoke, including Rick Bitando of Maxwell and Molly's Closet on Spring Street, were vocal in their support of Levante and the council. Bitando said if Levante "crossed that delicate line that guides the behavior of public officials" he did so out of "passion, care and concern for the town's residents and its property and business owners."

"I appreciate that attitude and his willingness to take on tough issues like school consolidation, crime-infested rooming houses, taxes (and) the improvement of downtown," Bitando said of Levante. "His presence in town and receptivity to the concerns and ideas of business owners is certainly welcome and refreshing. I hope you, as a council, appreciate what he has brought to the table and support him unequivocally."

Ben Egner, husband of Newton Board of Education Vice President Jessica Egner, came to the microphone to offer "a different perspective," specifically regarding Levante's use of social media. Levante has two Facebook pages, one personal and one titled "Wayne Levante -- Newton, NJ Mayor." Egner publicly spoke out against Levante's use of social media at a council meeting in October saying, at the time, that the mayor had been "disrespectful" and "divisive."

"When a council member uses their position to post political views, I think it's a little overreaching," Egner said on Monday night. He went on to say that he believed elected officials were town employees and were discouraged from using town pages for political views, again calling the behavior "divisive."

Many members of the public who spoke on Monday called for cooperation between parties in order to move Newton in the right direction. The September vote on the school board's $18.96 million bonding referendum and November's election caused a division within the town that most want to move on from.

On Tuesday, Levante said exactly that.

"I believe the differences and issues that had developed from these two heated elections have now been put aside and relationships are in the process of being repaired," Levante said. "I now ask that leaders on all sides work to ensure that everyone maintains professionalism and unity from this point forward. There can be no personal agendas, only what is best for the future of Newton and its inhabitants."

Food trucks

The council tabled any further discussions on a possible ordinance that would have permitted food trucks in town. Levante said that while drafting the ordinance it was clear the law was becoming "cumbersome."

Business owners, such as Dan Hayek of Hayek's Market, said the increased competition from non-taxpaying vendors would create an undue hardship for existing eateries in town.

"Everyone I've talked to thought it was a bad idea," Hayek told the council.

Erin Louglas, owner of Between the Bread, and Becky Burkhardt, owner of the Barrel House, both voiced their opposition to the food trucks as well.

Spring Street parking

The issue of timed parking on Spring Street was, once again, a topic of discussion from several business owners as well, with several of the merchants pushing for expanding the parking time on the one-way street to two hours.

Town Manager Thomas S. Russo Jr. said it was a discussion the council could have at a later date, adding that the town-owned parking lots provide 2 1/2-hour parking for 25 cents.

Parking in all town lots will be free starting Nov. 23 through Jan. 1 for holiday shoppers.

David Danzis can also be contacted on Facebook: ddanzisNJH, on Twitter: @ddanzisNJH, or by phone: 973-383-1274.

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In 1907, Dr. Thomas L. Bennett incorporated the F.H. Bennett Biscuit Company in New York City. The company originally had its bakery located near the corner of Avenue D and 19th Street on the west side of Manhattan.